Child Care Assistance Program: 2017 federal training requirements

Recently, new training requirements were established by the federal government as part of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act reauthorization of 2014. To continue to receive Child Care Assistance Program payments and remain registered with the program, providers must complete the required health and safety training by Sept. 30, 2017. Specific requirements vary by provider type. This project will include changes to ensure ongoing compliance. Watch this page for updates.

If the provider is related to all the children receiving child care assistance, the provider must complete training by September 30, 2017 in:

Preventing Sudden Unexpected Infant Death syndrome (if caring for any children under 1 year old)

Preventing Abusive Head Trauma (if caring for any children under 5 years old)

If providers care for at least one child receiving child care assistance who is not a relative, providers must complete the Supervising for Safety – Legal Nonlicensed course offered through Child Care Aware. This course includes the Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma training requirements. The course must be completed by Sept. 30, 2017, or within 90 days of serving an unrelated child. Providers who began serving an unrelated child prior to July 1, 2017, must complete the course by Sept. 30, 2017. Providers who begin serving an unrelated child after July 1, 2017, must complete the course within 90 days of serving the child. For example, a provider who begins serving an unrelated child on Sept. 1, 2017, will need to complete the course by Nov. 30, 2017.

Providers must continue to meet these current legal, nonlicensed provider training requirements:

Proof of current certification in pediatric CPR and first aid prior to authorization as a Child Care Assistance Program provider

To continue receiving Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) payments and remain registered with the program, license exempt centers must complete these training requirements.

License-exempt centers must submit the License Exempt Provider Training Acknowledgment Form DHS-3769B (PDF) to the Minnesota Department of Human Services ensuring staff are, or will be, trained on the required topics by Sept. 30, 2017. License-exempt centers that do not submit the acknowledgment form will have their provider registration closed and will not receive Child Care Assistance Program payments for care provided after Sept. 30, 2017.

License-exempt centers do not need to submit proof of training, but proof must be available if requested.

Acknowledgement forms are not required for licensed centers and licensed family child care providers.

The department will determine which license exempt centers and legal non-licensed providers have not returned the appropriate form by Sept. 30, 2017. These providers will have their registrations closed Sept. 30, 2017. A 15-day notice of adverse action will be provided.

Providers who have told the department — either through the acknowledgement form or through another method — that they will not comply with the new training requirements will also have their registrations closed Sept. 30, 2017. A 15-day notice of adverse action will be provided.

Closing providers registrations does not impact a family’s eligibility, but families will need to select another child care provider to use their child care assistance.

Child Care and Development Fund

Officials at the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services have conditionally approved Minnesota’s Child Care and Development Fund Plan. It specifies ways Minnesota plans to invest state and federal dollars to help families with low incomes obtain child care so they can work or go to school, and improve the quality of child care for everyone. The plan also identifies changes Minnesota will make to promote coordination among early childhood development and after-school programs, meet heightened health and safety standards, provide consumers with information on licensing and program quality, and comply with other federal guidelines. For more information, contact the department at dhs.child.care@state.mn.us.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services invites your input and feedback on the proposed 2019–2021 Child Care and Development Fund Plan. The Child Care Development Fund Plan describes how state and federal funds will be used to improve the quality of child care and development, and help low-income families access care for their children. There are several ways to learn more about Minnesota's proposed Child Care Development Fund Plan and provide feedback.

On April 23 and 25, 2018, the Minnesota Department of Human Services is holding public hearings on the Child Care Development Fund Plan. This event will take place in Saint Paul, Minnesota and is open to the public. The department has worked to ensure the widest accessibility possible for all Minnesotans to view the public hearing in person, via live broadcast or video recording.

The livestream of the Child Care Development Fund Plan public hearing is accessible from almost any device with an internet connection (at home, work or library). For those unable to view the hearing live, the recording of the hearings will be available by April 26, 2018. It will remain available online for 60 consecutive days (see links below).

The department will accept feedback on the proposed Child Care Development Fund Plan any time during the comment period.

R.S.V.P: If you plan to attend in-person, please email dhs.CCDFreform@state.mn.us by Thursday, April 19, 2018. Attendees must register prior to the hearings to gain access within the building.

Proposed 2019–21 CCDF Plan and Comment Period

We will post the proposed 2019–21 Child Care Development Fund Plan on the Department of Human Services website by April 12, 2018. We will continue to accept feedback on the proposed Child Care Development Fund Plan until June 8, 2018. Comments and questions about the proposed plan may be emailed to dhs.CCDFreform@state.mn.us or mailed to Child Development Services, Minnesota Department of Human Services, PO Box 64962, Saint Paul, MN 55164-0962.

Questions?

For questions about training dates, location or cost, visit the Develop website, www.DevelopToolMN.org, and select Find Professional Development Training, or call Child Care Aware of MN at 888-291-9811.

For questions about other issues related to this initiative, email the department at dhs.ccap@state.mn.us, or call 651-431-4848.

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The terminology used to describe people with disabilities has changed over time. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (“Department”) supports the use of “People First” language. Although outmoded and offensive terms might be found within documents on the Department’s website, the Department does not endorse these terms.